Chapter Text
You had nowhere to go; your parents abandoned you and you didn't know if you had any relatives. All the people turned you away when you asked for a place to stay. Having no money, you couldn't even buy food and you didn't know the first thing about hunting. Soon you find yourself in a forest, dragging your heavy feet across the fallen leaves. You hoped if you went to another town, they would be more welcome to you. However you were quickly losing strength and slowly losing consciousness. You can see a dark figure in the distance so you take your chance and call out.
"Help me, please," you yell as loud as you can. The figure turns in your direction. You don't know if you were hallucinating, but it seemed like it was approaching you rather quickly - almost like it was flying. Unable to keep yourself up, your knees buckle as gravity takes your body down. Before you can feel the impact of the fall, a hand grabs the back of your shirt.
"You have two options, I can take you with me or I can leave you here. Choose," a woman's voice states coldly. Feeling like you were on death row, you decided to go with her. She smiles wickedly and suddenly your vision goes black.
….
You wake up from being dragged across a concrete floor by your arm. Before you're able to take in your surroundings, you're thrown into a cell that is quickly locked behind you. Panic sets in as you frantically search for an exit. Your tired body is pushed to the limit as you attempt to push against the barred door. Trying to think positively, you thank the gods you at least have a toilet and a pillow.
Sliding against the wall, you sit and wait for what seems like hours. The sound of a doorknob twisting has you lifting your head toward the source. The woman from earlier approaches your cell and slides a food tray underneath the small gap in the bars. Not even questioning it, you begin scarfing everything down. The woman scoffs at your manners. It's hard to read her expression with that annoying golden mask covering her face, but you can assume she looks disgusted. Also, her large cloak over her body makes it look like she's hiding something underneath.
"I'm going to perform a physical checkup on you. What's your age," she asks, monotoned. You think for a moment. Losing track of your age is of no surprise to you, but you do recall celebrating your eleventh birthday last year.
"I'm twelve, ma'am," you stutter. She doesn't give you any acknowledgement as she unlocks your cell, and pulls you out roughly by the arm.
"You will refer to me as Mother Miranda, or Mother if that's too hard for you," she mocks. Clenching your fists, you just nod. Accepting your silence, she brings you over to a scale to take your measurements. She strips you of your clothes and you don't even bother trying to cover yourself.
You've apparently gotten a little taller, standing just above 4'8", but your weight has drastically decreased - weighing only 56 lbs. Other than that, your body hasn't developed that much; you still have an a-cup chest and your hips are nonexistent. But that's understandable since you're so young. Internally sighing at your malnourished diet, you wait for her to finish up her notes.
After throwing your clothes into the cell, she shoves you back in as well - where you put your clothes back on and sit on the only pillow available. Counting your blessings, at least she even gave you a pillow to begin with.
She stands menacingly behind the bars, silently watching you with a tilted head.
"You will be called Zero One, unless you like Proto better," she says more as a statement than a question.
"I'd like to be called by my real name," you argue. She surprisingly laughs, but not in a happy way.
"I don't give a fuck about your birth name, mortal! You will be called Proto since you're the first test subject for my experiment, and that's final. Also you may as well forget everything you used to be, because now you're stuck with me - and I will use you until you either drop dead or become a being almost as perfect as me," she growls, leaving you cowering in fear.
Why did you accept to go with her again? Oh right, you were desperate - just like how you are right now. Maybe you can end your suffering before she can use you. Time to start really searching this cell now that you have more energy from the food.